1)Alexander Popov (Ксения Володичева) Popov did not start swimming until he was 8, because of his fear of water. He began attending overseas swim camps at age 11 and by age 14, he was Russian junior champion. He spends over 6 hours a day in the pool at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, where he has trained since his coach moved there in 1993, and swims 80-90km a week, much more than most sprinters do. Following his tremendous successes at the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, where he snared multiple gold medals, Alexander returned to his Russian homeland to celebrate and to meet with various dignataries who were obviously eager to congratulate him.
2)Sergei Federov (Наталия Гребёнкина) was a right winger, etired ice hockey player who primarily played for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Although also a member of Russian Olympic teams, Federov was known for leading the NHL in goals and points for several years, and helping to guide the Red Wings to Stanley Cup Championships during the 1990's. He was an ambassador for Russia at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
3)Anna Kournikova (Роза Жукова)
became legendary for her modelling talents, but was internationally renown for her skills as a tennis player long before she was internationally renown for her body. This famous Russian athlete, who very recently became an American citizen, has consistently been among the world's greatest tennis players since her career began in the late 1990's. She reached No. 8 in the world in 2000. She achieved greater success playing doubles, where she was at times the World No.1 player. With Martina Hingis as her partner, she won Grand Slam titles in Australia in 1999 and 2002. They referred to themselves as the "Spice girls of Tennis".
4)Maria Sharapova (Екатерина Зайцева) is a Russian professional tennis player, who is ranked world No. 2 by the Women`s Tennis Association(WTA). A United States resident since 1994, Sharapova has competed on the WTA tour since 2001. She has been ranked world №1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions, for a total of 21 weeks. She became the world No. 1 for the first time on August 22, 2005 at the age of 18, and last held the ranking for the fifth time for four weeks from June 11, 2012 to July 8, 2012. She is the reigning champion in singles at the French Open. She won world fame with her victory at the 2004 Wimbledon Open, one of professional tennis' most prestigious tournaments. Since then Sharapova has gone on to be arguably the top tennis player in the world, with 22 tournament championships and several world number one rankings.
5)Mikhail Youzhny (Виолетта Коннова) is a famous Russian tennis player who has achieved a world ranking of number 8. Noted as one of the most consistent Russian players to ever play the game, Youzhny has advanced twice to the semifinals of the prestigious U.S. Open.Youzhny is one of the few active players to have reached the quarterfinals of all grand slams, going beyond the quarterfinals at the US Open in 2006 and 2010.His first title win came at the Mercedes Cup held in Stuttgart, Germany, when he defeated Guillermo Cañas from Argentina. Youzhny has reached ATP finals on all surfaces, but has never won a singles title on grass. In 2010—his best season thus far—Youzhny reached five ATP tournaments, winning two and ending the year as a top-10 player. Youzhny was a member of the winning Russian national team at the Davis Cup in both 2002 and 2006.
6)Pavel Bure (Эльвира Минниханова) is a retired Russian professional ice hockey right winger. Nicknamed "The Russian Rocket" for his speed,Bure played for 12 seasons, competed for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, and Florida Panthers during his 12 illustrious years in the league. Noted for his incredible skating speed, Bure was a multiple time All Star, and helped the Canucks to the Stanley Cup in 1994.Internationally, Bure competed for the Soviet Union and Russia. As a member of the Soviet Union, he won two silver medals and a gold in three World Junior Championships, followed by a gold and a silver medal in the 1990 and 1991 World Championships, respectively.
7)Alex Ovechkin (Антонина Ожерельева) is a Russian professional ice hockey winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL), considered by many to be the greatest hockey player alive in 2010. The winner of several MVP trophies and other prestigious honors, Ovechkin has led the Washington Capitals of the NHL to several division championships, and the best record in the NHL. He was often compared to arch-rival Sidney Crosby of Canada in the discussion of best player in the league in the mid to late 2000's, and is thought to be a lock for the Hall of Fame. He is one of Russia's most famous athletes of all-time.
8)Evgeny Plushenko (Анастасия Семеева) is a Russian figure skater. He is a four-time Olympic medalist (2006 gold, 2014 team gold, 2002 & 2010 silver), a three-time World Champion (2001, 2003, 2004), a seven-time European Champion (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012), a four-time Grand Prix Final Champion(1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05), and a ten-time Russian national Champion (1999–2002, 2004–2006, 2010, 2012–2013). Plushenko's four Olympic medals tied Sweden's Gillis Grafsrom's record for most Olympic medals in figure skating. He started skating when he was four years. Being the youngest of all in the skating group, was very hard for him. He used to cry, hit hard the ice, but he kept on going. He trained every day with his coach Mikhail Makoveyev. He was a good student, learnd very quickly all sort of elements, like the Biellmann Spin. Now, the Biellmann Spin is his trademark.
9)Nikolai Khabibulin (Полина Старцева) is one of the NHL's best goaltenders and one of the most famous Russian athletes alive. Known by the nickname The Bulin Wall, he spent the majority of his playing career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with theWinnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Chicago Blackhowls,Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers. In 2004 he became the first Russian goalie to ever win a Stanley Cup, when the Tampa Bay Lightning emerged victorious. He has also put up stats that are consistently near the top of the NHL seasonal goaltender list. Khabibulin excelled at the international level, winning two Olympic medals (gold and bronze) and was named Best Goaltender at the 2002 Winter Olympics. He was the first Russian goaltender to ever win the Stanley Cup, doing so with Tampa Bay in 2004. He was also a four-time NHL All-Star.
10)Elena Dementieva (Валерия Тюрина) is a retired Russian tennis player. Dementieva won the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, having previously won the silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. She won 16 WTA singles titles, reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open and reached seven other Grand Slam semi finals. Dementieva was also part of the Russian team that won the 2005 Fed Cup, won the 2002 WTA Championship doubles with Janette Husárová and was the runner-up in two US Open doubles finals – in 2002 with Husárová and in 2005 with Flavia Pennetta. Dementieva achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 3, which was accomplished on 6 April 2009. She may have retired from the sport of tennis at a young age, but not before gaining international stardom for her upset gold medal victory at the 2008 summer Olympics in Bejiing, China. She began playing professionally at age 16, and retired in 2010.
11) Alina Kabaeva (Диана Шеламова) is a RussianHonored Master of Sports, retired rhythmic gymnast, and politician. Between 2007 and 2014 she was a State Dumadeputy from the United Russia party. Since September 2014 she is the chairwoman of the board of directors of the National Media Group. Kabaeva is Russia's second most successful rhythmic gymnast after Evgenia Kanaeva. She is also one of the most decorated gymnasts in the history of rhythmic gymnastics with two Olympic medals, 14 world championship medals and 25 European championship medals. Kabaeva revolutionized rhythmic gymnastics as one of the few gymnasts to have performed new skills and elements which included the back split pivot with hand help (also known as "The Kabaeva"), the ring position with a slow full turn and the backscale pivot that she first performed.
Popov did not start swimming until he was 8, because of his fear of water. He began attending overseas swim camps at age 11 and by age 14, he was Russian junior champion. He spends over 6 hours a day in the pool at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, where he has trained since his coach moved there in 1993, and swims 80-90km a week, much more than most sprinters do. Following his tremendous successes at the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, where he snared multiple gold medals, Alexander returned to his Russian homeland to celebrate and to meet with various dignataries who were obviously eager to congratulate him.
2)Sergei Federov (Наталия Гребёнкина)
was a right winger, etired ice hockey player who primarily played for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Although also a member of Russian Olympic teams, Federov was known for leading the NHL in goals and points for several years, and helping to guide the Red Wings to Stanley Cup Championships during the 1990's. He was an ambassador for Russia at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
3)Anna Kournikova (Роза Жукова)
became legendary for her modelling talents, but was internationally renown for her skills as a tennis player long before she was internationally renown for her body. This famous Russian athlete, who very recently became an American citizen, has consistently been among the world's greatest tennis players since her career began in the late 1990's. She reached No. 8 in the world in 2000. She achieved greater success playing doubles, where she was at times the World No.1 player. With Martina Hingis as her partner, she won Grand Slam titles in Australia in 1999 and 2002. They referred to themselves as the "Spice girls of Tennis".
4)Maria Sharapova (Екатерина Зайцева)
is a Russian professional tennis player, who is ranked world No. 2 by the Women`s Tennis Association(WTA). A United States resident since 1994, Sharapova has competed on the WTA tour since 2001. She has been ranked world №1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions, for a total of 21 weeks. She became the world No. 1 for the first time on August 22, 2005 at the age of 18, and last held the ranking for the fifth time for four weeks from June 11, 2012 to July 8, 2012. She is the reigning champion in singles at the French Open. She won world fame with her victory at the 2004 Wimbledon Open, one of professional tennis' most prestigious tournaments. Since then Sharapova has gone on to be arguably the top tennis player in the world, with 22 tournament championships and several world number one rankings.
5)Mikhail Youzhny (Виолетта Коннова)
is a famous Russian tennis player who has achieved a world ranking of number 8. Noted as one of the most consistent Russian players to ever play the game, Youzhny has advanced twice to the semifinals of the prestigious U.S. Open.Youzhny is one of the few active players to have reached the quarterfinals of all grand slams, going beyond the quarterfinals at the US Open in 2006 and 2010.His first title win came at the Mercedes Cup held in Stuttgart, Germany, when he defeated Guillermo Cañas from Argentina. Youzhny has reached ATP finals on all surfaces, but has never won a singles title on grass. In 2010—his best season thus far—Youzhny reached five ATP tournaments, winning two and ending the year as a top-10 player. Youzhny was a member of the winning Russian national team at the Davis Cup in both 2002 and 2006.
6)Pavel Bure (Эльвира Минниханова)
is a retired Russian professional ice hockey right winger. Nicknamed "The Russian Rocket" for his speed,Bure played for 12 seasons, competed for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, and Florida Panthers during his 12 illustrious years in the league. Noted for his incredible skating speed, Bure was a multiple time All Star, and helped the Canucks to the Stanley Cup in 1994.Internationally, Bure competed for the Soviet Union and Russia. As a member of the Soviet Union, he won two silver medals and a gold in three World Junior Championships, followed by a gold and a silver medal in the 1990 and 1991 World Championships, respectively.
7)Alex Ovechkin (Антонина Ожерельева)
is a Russian professional ice hockey winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL), considered by many to be the greatest hockey player alive in 2010. The winner of several MVP trophies and other prestigious honors, Ovechkin has led the Washington Capitals of the NHL to several division championships, and the best record in the NHL. He was often compared to arch-rival Sidney Crosby of Canada in the discussion of best player in the league in the mid to late 2000's, and is thought to be a lock for the Hall of Fame. He is one of Russia's most famous athletes of all-time.
8)Evgeny Plushenko (Анастасия Семеева)
is a Russian figure skater. He is a four-time Olympic medalist (2006 gold, 2014 team gold, 2002 & 2010 silver), a three-time World Champion (2001, 2003, 2004), a seven-time European Champion (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012), a four-time Grand Prix Final Champion(1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05), and a ten-time Russian national Champion (1999–2002, 2004–2006, 2010, 2012–2013). Plushenko's four Olympic medals tied Sweden's Gillis Grafsrom's record for most Olympic medals in figure skating. He started skating when he was four years. Being the youngest of all in the skating group, was very hard for him. He used to cry, hit hard the ice, but he kept on going. He trained every day with his coach Mikhail Makoveyev. He was a good student, learnd very quickly all sort of elements, like the Biellmann Spin. Now, the Biellmann Spin is his trademark.
9)Nikolai Khabibulin (Полина Старцева)
is one of the NHL's best goaltenders and one of the most famous Russian athletes alive. Known by the nickname The Bulin Wall, he spent the majority of his playing career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with theWinnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Chicago Blackhowls,Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers. In 2004 he became the first Russian goalie to ever win a Stanley Cup, when the Tampa Bay Lightning emerged victorious. He has also put up stats that are consistently near the top of the NHL seasonal goaltender list. Khabibulin excelled at the international level, winning two Olympic medals (gold and bronze) and was named Best Goaltender at the 2002 Winter Olympics. He was the first Russian goaltender to ever win the Stanley Cup, doing so with Tampa Bay in 2004. He was also a four-time NHL All-Star.
10)Elena Dementieva (Валерия Тюрина)
is a retired Russian tennis player. Dementieva won the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, having previously won the silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. She won 16 WTA singles titles, reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open and reached seven other Grand Slam semi finals. Dementieva was also part of the Russian team that won the 2005 Fed Cup, won the 2002 WTA Championship doubles with Janette Husárová and was the runner-up in two US Open doubles finals – in 2002 with Husárová and in 2005 with Flavia Pennetta. Dementieva achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 3, which was accomplished on 6 April 2009. She may have retired from the sport of tennis at a young age, but not before gaining international stardom for her upset gold medal victory at the 2008 summer Olympics in Bejiing, China. She began playing professionally at age 16, and retired in 2010.
11) Alina Kabaeva (Диана Шеламова)
is a Russian Honored Master of Sports, retired rhythmic gymnast, and politician. Between 2007 and 2014 she was a State Duma deputy from the United Russia party. Since September 2014 she is the chairwoman of the board of directors of the National Media Group.
Kabaeva is Russia's second most successful rhythmic gymnast after Evgenia Kanaeva. She is also one of the most decorated gymnasts in the history of rhythmic gymnastics with two Olympic medals, 14 world championship medals and 25 European championship medals.
Kabaeva revolutionized rhythmic gymnastics as one of the few gymnasts to have performed new skills and elements which included the back split pivot with hand help (also known as "The Kabaeva"), the ring position with a slow full turn and the backscale pivot that she first performed.